Dead at 21: Why Would God Take Such a Promising Life?

[1X83Z]

RIP: 1985-2005 Chevrolet Astro

What a shame. I mean, this thing made rear-wheel drive minivans cool long after rear-wheel drive minivans were cool. Therefore this thread is for discussing and memoralizing the life of the greatest vehicle ever to exist on Earth: the Chevrolet Astro. And I guess we can talk about the GMC Safari, too, but only if we have to.

I don't get you people: you made some mad fuss about the demise of the Chevrolet Camaro, you've got people praying they bring it back, but I'm seeing no such fanfare for the Chevrolet Astro. What's that about? This thing's been a staple on our roads for the last 21 years.

I mean, consider: 21 years without a redesign. You've got the Morgan Plus Eight, and then you've got this ungodly piece of crap. They put in the center brake light long after it was federally required, and were a year late on the passenger airbag, too. That right there is guts. These things were living in the face of danger! Sort of like its buyers during panic stops.

Anyway - Chevrolet says 2005 is this thing's final year, so say your goodbyes. Of course, Chevrolet said 2002 would be its final year and has made the very same promise each year since, but this year people seem to be taking it seriously this time. I think the best thing about the Astro was the fact the one person was clearly assigned to the entire project; last year's press picture was the same for each model, with alloy wheels Photoshopped in for whatever models had them. It wasn't even a good Photoshop, it was really obvious.

I clearly have only good things to say about these brilliant vans. Now it's your turn.

Oh, and there's a poll. The answer should be obvious, but I'll tell you anyway: it's 2002.

 

[skip0110]

So this would be the last van on the US market to have dutch doors, right?

What will interior decorators drive now that it's gone?

 

[1X83Z]

So this would be the last van on the US market to have dutch doors, right?

Yep. They should've run with the Dutch theme. Imagine the possibilities!

What will interior decorators drive now that it's gone?

Hopefully the Dodge Sprinter. And in 19 years I can make a thread about it, too.

 

[Joey D]

Ya I liked the Astro, I know call me crazy. I actually wanted one for a while because the guy that used to live next to me has one alll tricked out with bags, rims, and custom paint. It looked bad ass.

But M5 couldn't you make a similar thread about the S-Trucks since they got the ax, or how about the....errrr I can't think of the other car GM axed.

 

[MazKid]

I sense a Cavalier thread on the way...

The Sprinter sucks. I mean, it's big, and it's very Mercedes looking, but it's slow. If I remember right it's like 0-60 in 15.9 seconds. And yes that's a C&D number, so it's even slower. And that was unloaded. Get some FedEX boxes in there and you aren't moving anywhere any time soon.

The thing about the Astro was that it was used by 2 types of people - Rednecks and youth sports parents. And the 2 minivans that were better at RWD were the 1st gen MPV and the Previa. Both revolutionary.

 

[Flerbizky]

I'll miss the Astro van... The turbo'ed 4x4 is by far the coolest way to haul a bike around from track to track...

 

[Jay]

Get some FedEX boxes in there and you aren't moving anywhere any time soon.

I bet adding weight wont change the performance much at all.

 

[Ev0]

That's true Viper, adding weight wouldn't degrade performance very much, but then again, it's nearly impossible to further degrade the van's nonexistent performance.

 

[pimp racer]

WOW this really sucks since they are such a usufull vechiles!

 

[Firebird]

And the 2 minivans that were better at RWD were the 1st gen MPV and the Previa. Both revolutionary.

Revolutionarily ugly?

 

[1X83Z]

But M5 couldn't you make a similar thread about the S-Trucks since they got the ax, or how about the....errrr I can't think of the other car GM axed.

Tracker? Blazer? No, they all sucked. The Astro is really the end of an era.

An era that should've ended long ago.

And the 2 minivans that were better at RWD were the 1st gen MPV and the Previa. Both revolutionary.

The MPV was a minivan like a duck is a fish. And the only two minivans on our market that I'd call revolutionary are the original Chrysler vans and the 1999 Honda Odyssey.

 

[McLaren]

Has Chevy announced what's replacing it?
This stinks.

First the Camaro, then the Cavalier, now this.

 

[skip0110]

First the Camaro, then the Cavalier, now this.

You mean you miss the J-body Cavalier? I suppose you were disappointed when Daewoo pulled out of US market too?

 

[1X83Z]

Has Chevy announced what's replacing it?
This stinks.

Hopefully nothing. Since not one person actually bought one in the last two years.

I suppose you were disappointed when Daewoo pulled out of US market too?

Daewoo's not yet out of the market. There are still surpluses of unsold Daewoo models, never registered, never titled, at the lots of various dealers who had a little more faith in Daewoo than they should've. Actually they're sort of deals - 2002 Leganza CDX (Camry-size), automatic, sunroof, CD, heated leather, automatic climate control, less than 2000 miles for ~$9000. And they're not exactly rare either - AutoTrader is full of these things.

 

[87chevy]

I always wanted to see what a 4x4 or AWD Astro could do off-road, or just take it on a dirt road and rally it. That would have been fun.

GM only sold these things Commercially, like to State governments and stuff, cuase FSU has plenty of them.

 

[Sage]

You know Tim's parents have one, right? I rode in it once, but it was so boring I can't remember a thing about it.

 

[1X83Z]

GM only sold these things Commercially, like to State governments and stuff, cuase FSU has plenty of them.

For years and years, GM did a good business privately as well. In fact, Ford announced that the only other rear-drive minivan, the Aerostar, would be cancelled in 1996 - only to let it go two more years because of better-than-expected popularity. So there seems to be demand. There are still 2004 models on the private market. A few are on AutoTrader, and I actually happened to see one the other day - though it was the first new Astro I had seen in at least a year. Yes, GM does a good business commerically but unlike several models, they are not sold ONLY commercially - they're fully available on the private market.

Plus - Chevrolet has another cargo van, the Express, who, along with its GMC twin, the Savana, does a great business against the Ford E-series and Dodge Sprinter.

You know Tim's parents have one, right?

I do indeed.

 

[Pupik]

I saw an Astro at the Auto Show a few weeks ago. It looks it's age. Heck, it's older than 75% of the GTP members here.

In fact, Ford announced that the only other rear-drive minivan, the Aerostar, would be cancelled in 1996 - only to let it go two more years because of better-than-expected popularity.

My family had an Aerostar from mid-1985 to late-1987. We had the only one in the city, because the plant went on strike for two months, and none could be delivered. And it had a purely digtal instrument display, captain's chairs in the back...awesome stuff for an 11-year-old.

I only got to drive the Aerostar once, and that was by mistake ("Whaddya mean the shift lever actually moves when there's no key in the ignition?") I jumped on the brake pedal with all the might a stupid kid of 13 could.

We sold it for a Honda Accord later that year.

 

[1X83Z]

I saw an Astro at the Auto Show a few weeks ago. It looks it's age. Heck, it's older than 75% of the GTP members here.

They haven't done much to dress it up either - it hasn't had a facelift in ten years, I think.

We sold it for a Honda Accord later that year.

Good call.

I see Aerostars with much more frequency than I'd like - in fact, I saw an old short-wheelbase RWD model in my neighborhood just today - given that there's ice practically everywhere I'm not sure how he manages.

 

[RVDNuT374]

Has Chevy announced what's replacing it?
This stinks.

First the Camaro, then the Cavalier, now this.

The Chevy Cobalt's supposed to be replacing the Cavalier.

 

[Emohawk]

I've heard several times that these vans are 'really cool' in Japan.

 

[xcsti]

My family has had these since I was a little kid. I actually learned to drive in one (parallel parking sucks). My Dad is a chevy Honda guy, and honda didn't have anything big enough to pull a boat (up until the pilot) and jimmys and blazers were too expensive for the few advanages the had, so astro it is. We've had at least three that I can remember, I think we have a 2002 or 2003 one. Too bad to see it die.

 

[Joey D]

The Blazer and Jimmy were to expensive???? Hell mine was only 17,000. An Astro is far more expensive. Plus the Astro had the same 4.3L engine in it I believe.

 

[1X83Z]

I've heard several times that these vans are 'really cool' in Japan.

Indeed - I've not only heard this, but I've seen pictures. Worse, the full-size Buick Roadmaster wagon is similarly 'really cool' in Japan - and they mod both vehicles to crazy lengths.

The Blazer and Jimmy were to expensive???? Hell mine was only 17,000. An Astro is far more expensive. Plus the Astro had the same 4.3L engine in it I believe.

At one point the Astro got 200-horsepower from its 4.3, the most that engine ever produced.

 

[Jay]

When I was in Japan I saw a few Chevrolet Astro's, Infact I saw quite a few american cars like Lincon town car (late model), H2 Hummers, 80's Trans am, GMC Envoy and many others. They seem to be quite popular in Japn.

 

[Joey D]

At one point the Astro got 200-horsepower from its 4.3, the most that engine ever produced.

Not true, you forget about the Sy and Ty.


Both the Syclone and Typhoon utilize a 4.3L Turbocharged Vortec V6, pushing out 285+ HP (disputed to be 330) with 360ft/lbs of torque, with a liquid-cooled intercooler. A multiport fuel system feeds the motor while a TH700R4 automatic transmission puts power down to the AWD drivetrain. 0-60 times range from under 5 seconds (even in the rain!) to a quarter mile time of low/high 13's for the Syclone and mid 13's to low 14's for the Typhoon in stock form. The Syclone's ONLY production year was in 1991 with an estimated 2995 units built, while the Typhoon lasted from 1992-93 with 2500 units built in 92 and 2200 units built in 93. Both trucks feature a specialized ground effects package (known as cladding) and turbine style 16x8 aluminum rims. The Syclone's interior features plush cloth bucket seats with the "Syclone" badge embroidered into the headrest, along with door inserts to match while the 92 Typhoon's feature leather/cloth seats with headrest "Typhoon"embroidery and the 93 features full leather interior with power seats and overhead console. The trucks feature center console holds the leather shifter while a gauge cluster from a Sunbird GT keeps you informed of engine vitals and boost.

 

[1X83Z]

You're lecturing me on the Typhoon and Syclone?

I knew about the Typhoon and Syclone before you were out of diapers.

Truthfully, I realised that at about 1:30pm today when I basically made the exact same argument that you just made when I was discussing the coolest used cars with someone. I looked seriously at buying a Typhoon this spring, but I eventually decided against it. The last Syclone I saw was last week, the last Typhoon was about a month ago (in white, unbelievably). Anyway - I told the person I was discussing the Typhoon and Syclone with they probably got around 340 horsepower, though the rating was 285. This is the only time I've ever heard of a manufacturer intentionally rating an engine low in the last 20 years (or, more appropriately, it's the only believable time - everyone always says 'the manufacturer says it's got 250hp but I think it's more like 280!' but who buys that?). I mean, rating an engine low takes balls. Anyone can pull a Mazda or a Hyundai and rate an engine high, but rating one low is saying 'yeah, we know you're going to come into the dealer no matter what the rating is because this thing kicks ass.' And it did.

Either way, I meant the most that engine ever got... naturally-aspirated.

PS - the base Jimmy those years had a 190-horsepower 4.3L V6; let's say for argument's sake the Typhoon had a 325-horsepower turbo version. By comparison, today's Envoy has a 275-horsepower 4.2-liter straight six. Proportionally, if they were to re-do the Typhoon to today's standards it would have about 470 horsepower. Truthfully, Cadillac should get the platform just to do a V-series model so they can have a Porsche Cayenne-beater.

 

[Joey D]

I'm sure I was outta diapers by then, I mean come on it was 93!

Ya I know I didn't mean to try and school, it just that I have read a ton on these things and I wanted to show off . I mean what am I going to do with so much useless knowledge?

But along with the whole Envoy/Trailblazer idea, there are plans for a 6.0L SS verison soon, but I suspect that will change.

 

[skip0110]

Anyway - I told the person I was discussing the Typhoon and Syclone with they probably got around 340 horsepower, though the rating was 285. This is the only time I've ever heard of a manufacturer intentionally rating an engine low in the last 20 years (or, more appropriately, it's the only believable time - everyone always says 'the manufacturer says it's got 250hp but I think it's more like 280!' but who buys that?). I mean, rating an engine low takes balls.

The Syclone wasn't the only GM car that was underrated. A lot of people say that the Grand National was underrated; I haven't seen anything to back that up. But I have seen records of people driving their LS1 Camaros right off the showroom floor and onto a dyno, and getting wheel horsepower numbers within a few horses of the rated hp (I think it varied between 300 and 315 hp depending on the exhaust/intake options, but I can't be arsed to look it up...) So we can safely say that LS1 must have been underrated about 10-15% (either that, or it had a most ungodly driveline ).

PS - the base Jimmy those years had a 190-horsepower 4.3L V6; let's say for argument's sake the Typhoon had a 325-horsepower turbo version. By comparison, today's Envoy has a 275-horsepower 4.2-liter straight six. Proportionally, if they were to re-do the Typhoon to today's standards it would have about 470 horsepower. Truthfully, Cadillac should get the platform just to do a V-series model so they can have a Porsche Cayenne-beater.

Have you seen the twin-turbo Trailblazer developed by GM engineers that has 400 hp and runs 0-60 in 5.4 s?

http://trucktrend.com/roadtests/performance/163_0208_twin/

You have now.

 

[1X83Z]

But I have seen records of people driving their LS1 Camaros right off the showroom floor and onto a dyno, and getting wheel horsepower numbers within a few horses of the rated hp (I think it varied between 300 and 315 hp depending on the exhaust/intake options, but I can't be arsed to look it up...) So we can safely say that LS1 must have been underrated about 10-15% (either that, or it had a most ungodly driveline ).

Sorry - I'm not buying it.

Have you seen the twin-turbo Trailblazer developed by GM engineers that has 400 hp and runs 0-60 in 5.4 s?

I have seen it - I also saw that it was outright vetoed for production.